What some of the most successful people in the world say about training in BJJ

What do some of the most successful people in the world say about training in BJJ?

Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ) has a few surprising participants. Everywhere you go, at your office, the local coffee shop, even family Christmas lunch (yes – your ridiculously fit Aunty you only see once a year is probably hitting the mats once a day, which means she’s way tougher than you), there’s people taking up the difficult but rewarding practice of BJJ. Why? Well we’ve found a few gems from some of the more famous participants in the world. Isn’t it true that people who are successful, very often have hidden skills?

“The kids [who train BJJ] are so respectful to each other. There’s something about [BJJ] that just puts you in your place. You realise if you’re the top guy you have to teach other kids, and if you’re the bottom guy you’ve got to learn from other people. And if you have insecurities they get worked out on the mat. I just think that it’s a humbling thing. People think of martial arts and they think ‘oh that’ll make you a badass, and you’ll kick someone’s butt, but to me it’s kind of the opposite. If it’s treated right and it’s taught correctly, I think it’s the opposite. It gives people confidence and with that confidence comes less ego and comes more respect for other people.”

“For me, Martial arts has always been the best [physical exercise] to deal with. The big ones for me are BJJ and kickboxing. Because Jiujistu is really really hard to do. And it’s also, you are solving problems . So I think Jiujitsu solves two problems. It’s incredibly grueling , as far as the sparring process, just rolling and competing with eachother. Even in a friendly roll, with a guy that I really like and we’re laughing and we slap hands everytime someone gets tapped out, it’s so difficult. Your body is taxed so hard and your mind is taxed because you’re dealing with countering, you’re dealing with setting up moves, you’re dealing with thinking several steps ahead, and then you’re adjusting those thoughts. So people get really really addicted to Jiujitsu, for all the right reasons. One of the things that I’ve found is that Jiujitsu people for the most part are way more mellow than most people would expect. Like way more chill about stuff. Because… your body your body is getting [access to its primal needs] in Jiujitsu, but without the real violence.”

“My entry into Jujisu was finding a self defence for my daughter that I thought was actually practical that could work. What I liked about it here was, when I came to the first class, it was really the philosophy that was the most empowering. You demystify the internalising that can happen. The kid might go, well there must be something about me that deserves to be called these names. And then there’s the shame. They don’t communicate with the parents because they don’t want to come home and say ‘someone made me feel bad or picked on.’”